Justify became the sixth straight favorite to win the Kentucky Derby and the first horse since Apollo in 1882 to win the Run for the Roses without racing as a 2-year-old when he prevailed on top of the 20-horse field on a sloppy Churchill Downs track on Saturday.
The forecast hit a worst-case scenario when the rains lingered at hit at precisely the wrong time of day which led the track to be deemed sloppy. It proved to be the rainiest Derby in the race’s 144-year history. Nearly three inches fell on the crowd of 157,813 throughout the day.
Only one horse a year gets to go into the #KyDerby Winner’s Circle at @ChurchillDowns. pic.twitter.com/vqxZWfEGNS
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 5, 2018
Justify, the 5-2 favorite with Mike Smith aboard, won by 2 ½ lengths over Good Magic. The colt ran 1¼ miles in 2:04.20. He paid $7.80, $6 and $4.40.
Good Magic returned $9.20 and $6.60, while Audible was another head back in third and paid $5.80 to show.
Instilled Regard, an 85-1 shot, was fourth, followed by My Boy Jack, Bravazo and Hofburg. Lone Sailor was eighth, followed by Vino Rosso, Solomini, Firenze Fire, Bolt d’Oro, Flameaway, Enticed, Promises Fulfilled, Free Drop Billy, Noble Indy, Combatant and Magnum Moon. Mendelssohn, trying to become the first Europe-based horse to win the Derby, finished last, beaten by 73¼ lengths.
COMPLETE STORY (BloodHorse.com)
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PAYOUTS
7 – Justify – $7.80/$6.00/$4.40
6 – Good Magic – $9.20/$6.60
5 – Audible – $5.80
WAGER TYPE / WINNERS / PAYOUT
$2 Pick Six (5 of 6) – 6/7/10/4/9/7,21 – $17,116.80; $770,263.86 pick six carryover
$2 Pick Five – 7/10/4/9/7,21 – $2,483,310.60
$0.50 Pick Four – 10/4/9/7,21 – $69,885.15
$2 Pick Three – 4/9/7 – $13,098.20
$2 Double – 9/7 – $88.20
$2 Exacta – 7-6 – $69.60
$2 Trifecta -7-6-5 – $282.80
$0.50 Trifecta – 7-6-5 – $70.70
$2 Superfecta – 7-6-5-15 – $39,236.40
$1 Superfecta – 7-6-5-15 – $19,618.20
$2 Exact 5 – 7-6-5-15-10 – $367,160.40
$1 Kentucky Oaks/Derby Double – 14 Monomoy Girl/7 Justify – $16.60
*Image from Twitter (@KentuckyDerby)
